Radiation

What is radiation?

Radiation is a form of energy. Radiation comes from man-made sources such as x-ray machines, from the sun and outer space, and from some radioactive materials, such as uranium in soil. Small quantities of radioactive materials occur naturally in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and even in our own bodies. Radiation that goes inside our bodies causes what we refer to as internal exposure. External exposure is from radiation from sources outside our body, such as radiation from sunlight and man-made and naturally occurring radioactive materials. Radiation doses that people receive are measured in units called roentgen equivalent in man (rem) or sievert. One sievert is equal to 100 rem. Scientists estimate that the average person in the United States receives a dose of about 1/3 of a rem per year. Eighty percent of typical human exposure comes from natural sources and 20% comes from artificial radiation sources, primarily medical X-rays

Is radiation fatal?

Radiation can affect the body in a number of ways, and the adverse health consequences of exposure may not be seen for many years. These adverse health effects can range from mild effects, such as skin reddening, to serious effects such as cancer and death, depending on the amount of radiation absorbed by the body (the dose), the type of radiation, the route of exposure, and the length of time a person is exposed. Exposure to very large doses of radiation may cause death within a few days or months. Exposure to lower doses of radiation may lead to an increased risk of developing cancer or other adverse health effects.

Treatment for radiation exposure or contamination varies with the type of radiation.

What are the signs and symptoms of exposure to radiation?

Radiation
affects the body in different ways, but the adverse health consequences
of exposure may not be seen for many years. Adverse health effects
range from mild effects, such as skin reddening, to serious effect such
as cancer and death. These adverse health effects are determined by the
amount of radiation absorbed by the body (the dose), the type of
radiation, the route of exposure, and the length of time a person is
exposed.

Acute radiation syndrome (ARS), or radiation sickness, is
usually caused when a person receives a high dose of radiation to much
of the body in a matter of minutes. Survivors of the Hiroshima and
Nagasaki atomic bombs and firefighters responding to the Chernobyl
nuclear power plant event in 1986 experienced ARS. The immediate
symptoms of ARS are nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Later, bone marrow
depletion may lead to weight loss, loss of appetite, feeling like you
have the flu, infection, and bleeding. The survival rate depends on the
radiation dose. For those who do survive, full recovery takes from a few
weeks to 2 years.

Children exposed to radiation may be more at
risk than adults. Radiation exposure to the unborn child is of special
concern because the human embryo or fetus is extremely sensitive to
radiation.

What are the long-term effect of exposure to radiation?

Radiation
exposure, like exposure to the sun, is cumulative. Radiation can affect
the body in a number of ways, and the adverse health consequences of
exposure may not be seen for many years. These adverse health effects
can range from mild effects, such as skin reddening, to serious effects
such as cancer and death, depending on the amount of radiation absorbed
by the body (the dose), the type of radiation, the route of exposure,
and the length of time a person is exposed. Exposure to very large doses
of radiation may cause death within a few days or months. Exposure to
lower doses of radiation may lead to an increased risk of developing
cancer or other adverse health effects.

How do I determine if I was exposed to radiation?

Radiation cannot be detected by human senses. A variety of instruments are available for detecting and measuring radiation.

Radiation
can affect the body in a number of ways, and the adverse health effects
of exposure may not be apparent for many years. These adverse health
effects can range from mild effects, such as skin reddening, to serious
effects, such as cancer and death, depending on the amount of radiation
absorbed by the body (the dose), the type of radiation, the route of
exposure, and the length of time a person was exposed.

What do I do if I suspect I was exposed to radiation?

After a
release of radioactive materials, local authorities will monitor the
levels of radiation and determine what protective actions to take. The
most appropriate action will depend on the situation. Tune to the local
emergency response network or news station for information and
instructions during any emergency. For more information, visit the
following page: Radiation Exposure Protection

Is radiation contagious?

People who are externally contaminated
with radioactive material can contaminate other people or surfaces that
they touch. For example, people who have radioactive dust on their
clothing may spread the radioactive dust when they sit in chairs or hug
other people. People who are internally contaminated can expose people
near them to radiation from the radioactive material inside their
bodies. The body fluids (blood, sweat, urine) of an internally
contaminated person can contain radioactive materials. Coming in contact
with these body fluids can result in contamination and/or exposure.

Is there a vaccine or antidote for exposure to radiation?

There
are specific treatments to speed the removal of radioactive materials
within the body as well as reduce the effects of radiation exposure
based on the specific radiological contamination type.

How does exposure to radiation occur?

Small quantities of
radioactive materials occur naturally in the air we breathe, the water
we drink, the food we eat, and in our own bodies. Radiation that goes
inside our bodies causes what we refer to as internal exposure. The
exposure that is referred to as external comes from sources outside the
body, such as radiation from sunlight and man-made and naturally
occurring radioactive materials.

Radiation doses that people
receive are measured in units called roentgen equivalent in man (rem) or
sievert. One sievert is equal to100 rem. Scientists estimate that the
average person in the United States receives a dose of about 1/3 of a
rem per year. Eighty percent of typical human exposure comes from
natural sources and the remaining 20 percent comes from artificial
radiation sources, primarily medical x-rays.

Where is radiation found?

Eighty percent of typical human
exposure comes from natural sources and 20 percent comes from artificial
radiation sources, primarily medical X-rays. Small quantities of
radioactive materials occur naturally in the air we breathe, the water
we drink, the food we eat, and even in our own bodies.

How is radiation used?

Radiation is used for medical and industrial purposes ranging from x-rays to decontaminating food.

What other risks are there for exposure to radiation?

Radiation
exposure, like exposure to the sun, is cumulative. Radiation affects
the body in different ways, but the adverse health consequences of
exposure may not be seen for many years.Adverse health effects range
from mild effects, such as skin reddening, to serious effect such as
cancer and death. These adverse health effects are determined by the
amount of radiation absorbed by the body (the dose), the type of
radiation, the route of exposure, and the length of time a person is
exposed. Children exposed to radiation may be more at risk than adults.
Radiation exposure to the unborn child is of special concern because the
human embryo or fetus is extremely sensitive to radiation.

Acute
radiation syndrome (ARS), or radiation sickness, is usually caused when a
person receives a high dose of radiation to much of the body in a
matter of minutes. Survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs
and firefighters responding to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant event
in 1986 experienced ARS. The immediate symptoms of ARS are nausea,
vomiting, and diarrhea; later, bone marrow depletion may lead to weight
loss, loss of appetite, feeling like you have the flu, infection, and
bleeding. The survival rate depends on the radiation dose. For those who
do survive, full recovery takes from a few weeks to 2 years.

Are there any historical uses or accidents involving radiation?

At
the end of World War II, the United States detonated 2 nuclear devices
over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. In the ensuing years, above- and
below-ground nuclear weapons testing was conducted by several nations.
There have also been significant radiological accidents at the nuclear
power plants in Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania, and Chernobyl, Ukraine.